Judge — June 1, 1929 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

JUDGE IWC VG THE MIO cXy By PARE LORENTZ + was a relief, but hardly entertainment, to dis- I cover that the May shipment of celluloid from Hollywood contained no court-room scenes with young lawyers crying into their brief cases, nor clowns with broken hearts and a theme song playing a first night. Emil Jannings and John Barrymore clected to give us two simple dramas of the Alps, a section one would hardly choose for intrigue or picnicking. As “Betrayal,” the Alpine idyl giving us Jannings, was the better movie, it rates a longer discussion. Be- sides, Jannings has gone home; after seeing how shabbily he has been treated, we hardly blame him. “Betrayal” has a simple, well-planned story. It is carefully directed and well cast. It is really good, ally useless because, for some incx- plicable reason, the director used gaudy studio sets that looked about as much like the Sw ‘ood cry he had to do it against a silly-looking back- drop that totally destroyed the illusion of rea We again have as a cherubic personifi tion of the good provider, the jolly burgomaster. He has done it before, but he is a master of make-up and you will find his characterization pleasing. Sorrow- ing over the sudden death of his young wife, Jannings suddenly finds evidence that forces him to believe she had been unfaithful. The double tragedy renders him insane; the subsequent tragedy is ineffective because of the wretched lighting and the trick scenery. It is unfortuna The the well-timed direction make * movie. The penury of the bad smear. Te Germans have given us many ideas about movie making, but when they resort to symbolism with- out point they appear silly. “Eternal Love" is a dis- turbing movie. John Barrymore, looking much the worse for wear, and Camilla Horn, one of the loveliest of actresses, commit suicide at the end of a series of beautiful pictures that are as vague and disturbing as a bad dream, If you are interested in photography you will find that Lubitsch has produced some haunting s ternal Love”; unfortunately, they do not est enough reality to justify the double suicide. Li the Swiss Alps may be like that, but it would take many a yodel and glass of ale to convinc i audience that “Eternal Love” is anything but a Grimm's fairy-tale beautifully illustrated. You will find many devices in this movie that were used by the other great German director, Murnaw, in “Sunrise.” However, there you had a great tragedy planted and justified; in “Eternal Love” the charac- ters are so vague and their actions so dreamy you never once are made to feel that these people are really working or loving or dying, but that they « puppets being shoved back and forth against a lovely, foreign pastel by a dexterous artist. The movie is a medium of light and sh we have had too many “Vari and “Patriots,” to swallow any pleasure or surprise. Jannings has deserted Hollywood. Lubitsch, who brought him over, must have bought passage on the same boat. dow, but “Last Laughs” le like this with oun McCormick, the Irish tenor, has announced that he will make a singing picture for William Fox. Half of the scenes will be taken in the Killar ney Lake district of Ireland, it is ili: “ox has long been the mother-love s lywood (‘!Four Sons,” “Mother Machr he has gone the limit this time and bought an expert. Mr. McCormick said his picture would not be operatic but “romantic in aspect without lovemaking.” Ths a lot of blarney, but at least one can be assured that the star in this picture won't be using a double to sing for him. The Movie Guide “Alibi” —Well-directed and fast-moving crook movie with superb leading man, Chester Morris. “Broadway Melody” — talking drama of stage li reminwcent of last year's stage hits “Betrayal” —In this issue. eta” nition, but Mar fo Jobin what sbe has lett weed beyond rag: a goad “Duke Steps Out’—Williain Haines and a made-to-onter fight story “Bulldog Orummond”—The best talk- ing picture to date, with Rosald Colman. “Eternal Leve™—In this issue. “Hearts in Uinie”—It Tom once in a while, but Stepin Fetebit is funny enough to make up for it egro aml all-talking “HetStu" —Warmed-over movie soup. “tanscents of Paris”—A very famous Freneb star gets a dirty deal from the producers: they gave bim the from- kutter-to-Broad way story to do. “naa Xn brougbt to life by Ruth feet performance “Moah’s Ark — courage to see it yet haven't had the ““Syncepation’ talk clearly enor A talkie that bs to underst comicbooks.com